ISC Daily News Summary

Results data published on Saturday by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) show 23.1% of Year 11 exam entries achieved a grade 9, more than five times the national average.

Other headline figures show:

• 95.6% of entries received a C/4 grade or higher, compared to the national average of 67.3% and up 0.1% from last year
• 74.4% of candidates achieved at least one grade 9/8/A*
• The average number of GCSEs taken per candidate is 9.4
• More than half (54.7%) of all entries were for GCSE exams. IGCSEs made up 45.3% of entries, a drop from 47.0% last year

The Times reports almost a quarter of GCSE exam entries at independent schools were awarded a grade 9. By Nicola Woolcock.

The Telegraph reports private school pupils are taking fewer GCSEs than ever, with headteachers encouraging them to participate in extra-curricular activities instead. By Camilla Turner. The article quotes Magnus Bashaarat, head of Bedales School, and Julian Thomas, former independent school head. The paper has also compiled an interactive league table of results. By Ashley Kirk and Patrick Scott.

Tes reports on the shift away from IGCSEs, as private schools are beginning to favour the new reformed GCSEs. By Catherine Lough.

All of the articles above quote Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC.

Letters published in The Guardian yesterday defend the IGCSE qualification. Christine Özden, CEO of Cambridge Assessment International Education, argues the Cambridge IGCSE and the reformed GCSEs are 'of the same standard', and should therefore be regarded equally by universities. The letters can be found at the top of the page.

The Department for Education has announced its plans to raise starting salaries for new teachers to £30,000 by 2022-23. By Catherine Wylie, The Independent.

Figures from the Royal Society of Chemistry show the number of UK students applying to study the subject at university has fallen by 21 per cent between 2015 and 2018, prompting calls for the Government to take action to encourage more students to pursue careers in chemistry. By Robin McKie, The Observer.

The prime minister has said schools in England are set to receive £14 billion in extra funding over the next three years. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph.

The Sunday Times features a geographical analysis of the funding boost, which concludes the cash injection 'favours schools in Conservative constituencies'. By Sian Griffiths and Tom Calver.

BBC News reports chancellor Sajid Javid is to announce £400 million of additional funding for further education in England to help support new technical and vocational qualifications.

According to a study for the Diana Award, 57 per cent of children have been bullied at some point in their school lives, with almost one in five saying it had made them feel suicidal. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph.

The Times features a collection of expert tips for parents of children about to start a new academic year. By Anna Maxted. Julia Harrington, head of Queen Anne's School in Caversham, is quoted.